Strike Zone Marker

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to volleyball training devices. More particularly, it relates to a system of marker devices affixed to a volleyball net for use in training volleyball players in hitting the volleyball toward the most vulnerable area in the opposing team&#39;s defense. The maker body may include a deflector to cause balls to be deflected at various angles to simulate blocking by a defensive player.

This invention relates to volleyball training devices. More particularly, it relates to a system of marker and blocker devices affixed to a volleyball net for use in training volleyball players to hit the ball toward the most vulnerable area in the opposing team's defense.

In volleyball, the offensive team can only score by delivering the ball to an area in the opposing team's defense from which the defensive team cannot return the ball. This is best accomplished when the offensive player who last strikes the ball is aware of the most vulnerable area in the defense and properly trained to deliver the ball to that area.

The present invention provides a training system which marks preferred striking zones in the defensive team's formation to which the last person striking the ball is directed to deliver the ball. The invention comprises a plurality of zone markers affixed to and extending above the net which cooperate to define specific strike zones. The zone markers are used in practice to train the players in identifying specified zones and accurately delivering the ball to specified zones during practice. In using the system of the invention, the team players are trained to act in concert to recognize vulnerable zones in the defensive formation and cooperate in delivering the ball to any specified zone on command. Other features and advantages of the invention will become more readily understood from the following detailed description taken in connection with the appended claims and attached drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a front illustrational view of an assembly of a pair of strike zone markers of the invention mounted on a volleyball net to designate striking zones;

FIG. 2 is a back elevational view of the assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a back isometric vies of the strike zone marker device of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a front isometric view of a deflector adapted for attachment to the strike zone marker of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a strike zone marker of the invention with the deflector of FIG. 4 attached.

The drawing is incorporated into and forms part of the specification to illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention. For clarity of illustration, like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the drawing.

The drawing figures are not to scale but are intended to disclose the inventive concepts by illustration. This drawing, together with the description herein, serves to explain the principles of the invention and is only for the purpose of illustrating preferred and alternative examples of how the invention can be made and used.

It will be recognized that the principles of the invention may be utilized and embodied in many and varied forms, and that various materials, component parts and arrangements of components may be employed in utilizing the invention. In order to demonstrate these principles, the invention is described herein by reference to specific preferred embodiments. The invention, however, is not limited to the specific forms illustrated and described in detail.

In volleyball, the receiving team must return the ball to the opposing team's side of the net in order to maintain the ball in play. The players on the receiving team are allowed to strike the ball no more than three (3) times each time the ball crosses the net. The player responsible for first intercepting the ball (commonly referred to as the digger or blocker) must prevent the ball from touching the court floor and return the ball over the net or deliver it to a second player (commonly referred to as the setter). The setter is responsible for delivering the ball to another player (commonly referred to as the hitter) in a position which permits the hitter to most advantageously strike the ball to deliver it over the net to the most vulnerable zone in the opposing team formation. The strike zone (sometimes referred to as hit zone) marker of the invention acts as a blocker, a deflector and a player replacement. It simulates what a physically present defensive player would present at the net. More importantly, the zone marker structure acts as a blocker and produces results similar to that which would be produced if a live blocker or blockers were at the net.

As illustrated in the drawing, the invention comprises a marker element 10 mountable on a volleyball net 20 and adjustably positionable on the net 20 to designate specific strike zones. The element 10 comprises a substantially rigid vertically elongated lightweight body 11 having an upper end 12, lower end 13 and front and back faces. Attachment means (such as strap 14 extending from the lower end 13) cooperates with closure means 15 (such as cooperating Velcro® pads, buckles, snaps or the like) on the free end of the strap 14 to secure the element 10 to the net 20 in a vertically oriented position as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The net 20 is thus entrapped between the strap 14 and the body 11 with the upper end 12 extending above the net 20.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, multiple marker elements 10 may be positioned at any desired horizontal location or elevation on the net 20 to simulate various defensive arrangements and thus designate various strike zones (designated as A, B and C in FIG. 1).

To provide more realistic blocking performance, the marker elements 10 may be provided with a deflector 16. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5 the deflector 16 is simply an enlargement protruding from the face of the body 11 which causes a ball to be deflected when the ball strikes the deflector 16. The deflector may be a horizontal bar (as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5) or any other desired configuration.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the deflector 16 is an enlarged body supported on a strap 17. The strap 17 is adapted to wrap around the body 11 and secured thereto with suitable attachment means 18 such as Velcro® or the like. Other suitable attachment means such as buckles, snaps, glue and the like may be used to secure the deflector 16 to the element to the front or back of body 11. Alternatively, the deflector 16 may be formed as an integral part of the body 11.

For training purposes, one or more marker elements 10 may be attached to a net 20 so that the upper end 12 of each marker element 10 extends above the net 20. Preferably, two or more marker elements 10 are positioned in spaced relation to each other to indicate preferred strike zones by their absence. Accordingly, the spaces between or around the markers 10 can be designated preferred strike zones (designated A. B and C in FIG. 1) and the hitter is trained to place the ball in a preferred or designated zone.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4 and 6 the deflector 16 is a horizontally extending bar with a downwardly sloping top surface which deflects a ball striking the sloping surface upward. However, deflector 16 need not be in the shape of a horizontally extending bar but may be curved or irregularly shaped to cause a ball which strikes it to rebound at various angles, depending on the shape of the deflector and the angle at which the ball strikes the deflector 16.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the deflectors 16 may be positioned at various elevations to cause varied blocking rebounds and, if desired, more than one deflector 16 may be positioned on each marker element 10.

The size and shape of the marker element 10 may be varied as desired. In the preferred embodiment the body 11 is substantially rectangular with the lower end 13 narrower than the upper end 12 and is made of suitable durable lightweight materials such as foamed polystyrene, vinyl or the like. Use of softer materials such as foamed polystyrene is preferred over harder materials such as wood and the like to reduce the possibility of injury to player's hands which may accidentally strike the marker element 10 during practice.

The typical marker element 10 should be about sixty-three (63) inches long, about sixteen (16) inches wide at the upper end 12 and about nine (9) inches wide at the lower end 13. In this configuration the marker element can readily be secured to the net 20 and extend upwardly above the net approximately twenty-four (24) inches. Other dimensions may be employed as desired.

While only two marker elements 10 are illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, as many marker elements (of any desired widths) may be used to designate as many strike zones as desired for any training exercise.

Use of strike zone markers as described herein permits a team to practice against a phantom opposition, thus reducing the number of players required to participate in as particular training exercise. For example, multiple marker elements 10 may be employed to simulate an opposing team, freeing other players to participate in other training exercises. Coaches and trainers are then free to concentrate on the abilities and techniques of individual players while teaching the most advantageous use of each player's particular skills.

While only exemplary embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail herein, it will be readily recognized that the principles of the invention may be used in various forms to provide volleyball training devices in various forms to simulate blocking players and designate preferred strike zones. It is to be understood, therefore, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the invention have been set forth in detail herein, the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the various embodiments, is to be considered illustrative only. Various changes and modifications may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and materials as well as arrangement and combination of parts, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 

What is claimed:
 1. A volleyball training system which includes a zone marker device having an upper end, a lower end and front and back faces, said zone marker device attachable to a volleyball net to extend substantially vertically above the net and define designated strike zones in the opposing team's formation.
 2. A training system as defined in claim 1 wherein said zone marker device comprises a vertically elongated body with an upper end and a lower end and attachment means for removeably securing said elongated body to said net.
 3. A training system as defined in claim 1 wherein said attachment means comprises an elongated strap with a first end thereof secured to the lower end of said body and second end secured to said body at a point removed from said lower end with the net entrapped between said strap and said elongated body.
 4. A training system as defined in claim 1 wherein said elongated body supports at least one deflector on said front face.
 5. A training system as defined in claim 4 wherein said deflector comprises a horizontal bar attached to said front face.
 6. A training system as defined in claim 5 wherein said horizontal bar has a downwardly sloping upper surface.
 7. A training system comprising: a) a volleyball net erected for use; and b) at least one marker element comprising an elongated body having an upper end, a lower end and front and back faces arranged substantially vertically with its lower end secured to said volleyball net and its upper end extending above the volleyball net.
 8. A training system as defined in claim 7 including at least two said marker elements positioned substantially parallel with each other and spaced apart to define a strike zone therebetween. 